community research matters @ hsd - uvic.ca · welcome to the first edition of community research...
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Community Research Matters @ HSDBringing learning to life.
Addressing priorities for a healthy society Welcome to the first edition of Community Research Matters @ HSD
(Human and Social Development). This publication outlines just
a few of the many exceptional community research projects and
initiatives underway within our Faculty.
In the Faculty of Human and Social Development we bring learning
to life through community research partnerships that make a
difference. We learn together about the challenges that people
confront in today’s world and the successes they achieve as they
apply their own local knowledge and ingenuity to those challenges.
Research informs our educational programs. Students benefit from
our community based research projects through practicum and
co-op work experiences and through academic programs that
provide students with opportunities to contribute to the health of society, working with
people across the life-span. Our distance programs provide access to higher education
for students who can learn while continuing to play an important role in their own
communities across BC, Canada and around the world.
We are leading the way on new and emerging health research, community based
research, in our work with Indigenous communities and building new programs that
contribute to the strength of communities by addressing priorities in the areas of public
health, community development and health information technology.
It has been an exciting year of recognition within the Faculty that is well warranted.
Please take note of our award highlights, our celebrated book gallery and our many
engaging research initiatives taking place in a community near you. We are driven by a
desire to improve our world—come join us in our mission. We welcome your comments
or questions at [email protected].
Research highlightsHere are some of the community research themes we are currently exploring at HSD:
� New and emerging health research
� Indigenous communities and collaborations
� How governments and non-profits work
� Social justice and dispute resolution
� Health Informatics and new technology
� The social health and welfare of children, families and communities
� Interpretations of practice and social policy
� Marginalized populations
� International collaborations and education
Watch for the developments and impacts of our upcoming community research projects in the next publication or visit our website at
www.hsd.uvic.ca/research
Mary Ellen Purkis Dean, Faculty of Human and Social Development
The Faculty of Human and Social Development respectfully acknowledges the Coast Salish and Straits Salish peoples on whose traditional lands our university resides; we respect their ancestors, ceremonies and beliefs.
Dr. Jessica Ball (Child and Youth Care) 2009 Academic of
the Year Award from the Confederation of University
Faculty Associations (CUFA) and is the 2009 recipient of
the Craigdarroch Award for Research Communications.
Ball is an internationally recognized expert in Aboriginal
child health and is committed to bringing research
evidence into the policy decision-making process.
Dr. Marge Reitsma-Street (Studies in Policy and Practice)
2009 recipient of the National Dick Wieler Award from
the Canadian Council on Social Development. The
award is presented annually to acknowledge and
honour exceptional contributions to community and
social development in Canada.
Doctoral student, Janet Newbury (Child and Youth Care)
is a 2009 recipient of the prestigious Canadian Vanier
Scholarship for her research on service delivery and
social justice for children and families.
Dr. Jeff Reading (Human and Social Development) received
the 2008 National Aboriginal Achievement Award in
the field of health. He recently completed an eight-year
term as the inaugural scientific director of the UVic-based
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of
Aboriginal Peoples’ Health.
Dr. John Langford (Public Administration) 2009 Pierre
De Celles Award for excellence in teaching in
public administration from the Institute of Public
Administration in Canada.
Dr. Elaine Gallagher (Nursing) 2009 recipient of the
Victoria Leadership Awards in the category of
University of Victoria Community Leadership which
recognizes exemplary leadership in linking UVic and the
community for greater public benefit and received the
2008 CUFA academic of the year award.
Dr. Alan Pence (Child and Youth Care) appointed
UNESCO Chair in Early Childhood Care, Education and
Development. For years Pence has researched and
advocated for improving educational opportunities and
training for early childhood development leaders in
Sub-Saharan Africa and has created the Early Childhood
Development Virtual University (ECDVU).
Professor Denis Protti (Health Information Science) 2008
recipient of the COACH (Canada’s Health Informatics
Association) Leadership Award in the field of Health
Informatics. He is the founding director of Canada’s
only school of health information science and is an
internationally recognized leader in the advancement of
health informatics.
Bob de Faye (Public Administration) The University of
Victoria’s Distinguished Alumni Award 2009
Professor David Turner (Social Work) 2008 National Social
Work Week Distinguished Service Award for BC.
Dr. Jeff Corntassel (Indigenous Governance) 2008
recipient of the HSD Award for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Michael Prince (Studies in Policy and Practice)
received the President’s Award from the Canadian
Association for Community Living, a Canada-wide
association working for the benefit of persons of all
ages who have an intellectual disability.
Dr. Sibylle Artz (Child and Youth Care) 2008 recipient
of the Victoria Leadership Awards in the category of
University of Victoria Community Leadership which
recognizes exemplary leadership in linking UVic and the
community for greater public benefit.
Dr. Irving Rootman (Human and Social Development)
awarded fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health
Sciences which recognizes fundamental science to
social science to population health.
Drs. Karen MacKinnon, Jessie Mantle, Jan Storch and Betty Davies
(Nursing) were recipients of the 2008 Canadian Nursing
Association Centennial award. The 100 awards were
created to honour exceptional registered nurses whose
work has had a positive impact on nursing and on the
lives and health of Canadians.
Awards and recognition highlights
Snow DriftersMaster’s student Ann Rose Kerkovius (Social Work) was born in an igloo in
Kugluktuk, Nunavut. She lived a nomadic life as a child travelling with her
family by dogsled. Her Master’s thesis entitled ‘Snow Drifters: Homeless Men
in Rankin Inlet’ provided research themes defining homelessness, sleeping
locations, stigmatization, addictions and mental health, sadness/isolation/loss
of identity, and positive attitudes leading to action. Because of overcrowded
living conditions in the Arctic, homelessness is often hidden and disguised.
Her aim was to acknowledge that homelessness exists in the Arctic, get
the community involved in finding solutions and work towards building a
homeless shelter for men.
“The voices of the people most directly affected by homelessness must be taken into consideration because as Inuit we are taught to care for those in need – ‘Ilaginniq’ (kinship)“
Governance Challenges for National Statistical AgenciesIf a national statistics agency produced data that made the
government look bad, what might be the result? After all, it is
the government that funds the agency, and it might be less
than happy with the results. Dr. Cosmo Howard’s (Public
Administration) three-year study will examine issues of autonomy
and technology in the national statistical agencies of Australia,
New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada to explore which
organization has managed to achieve the best compromise
between independence and responsiveness. According to
Howard’s preliminary research, statistical agencies around the
world are responding to these challenges in very different ways.
Canada is really regarded
as having one of the best
statistical agencies in
the world. That is their
reputation – this study
will look for the evidence.
Indigenous Child Welfare Research Network
A BC Strategy for Strengthening the Voices of our Children
Personalizing Politics Dr. Catherine Althaus (Public Administration) has some advice
for you if you’re a senior bureaucrat or a lobbyist: Get to know
the personal aspects of the cabinet minister or other politician
you are attempting to influence. Find out about their previous
experiences and the things that have shaped their lives. The
notion of getting to know your minister is just one of the findings
of Althaus’ recent research on political risk, summarized in her
2008 book, Calculating Risk. While risk is well-researched in history,
math, linguistics, religion, philosophy and the arts, Althaus’ book is
the first-ever to examine the concept from the viewpoint of public
administration and political science.
In order to calculate the
political risk of a decision
you have to know the
personal dimensions of
the politician.
Strengthening the Voices of our ChildrenThe Faculty of Human and Social Development has
launched the Indigenous Child Welfare Research
Network that brings together BC researchers,
practitioners and communities to support Indigenous
child and family well-being. The network’s aim is to
ensure the lives of Indigenous children throughout
BC are nurtured, strengthened and enriched through
traditional teachings, stories and child welfare practices
relevant to BC’s diverse Indigenous cultures. For more
information visit web.uvic.ca/icwr.
In the Footsteps of our Ancestors Dr. Waziyatawin (Indigenous Governance) is an historian who studies how settler
societies have impacted Indigenous societies and how Indigenous nations can recover
their traditional values. Waziyatawin is a Wahpetunwan Dakota from southwestern
Minnesota and is UVic’s Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples.
Her research interests include Indigenous women and the struggle for social justice, the
recovery of Indigenous knowledge, and truth-telling and reparative justice.
“Through years of collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in Canada and elsewhere, UVic
has become a North American leader in research related to governance and developing
an understanding of how to redress the ways that Indigenous Peoples have been
historically treated by the rest of society, “ says Dr. Howard Brunt, UVic’s Vice-President of
Research. “This Canada Research Chair builds on those strengths.”
“What drew me to the Indigenous Governance program is the intellectual commitment to Indigenous liberation and its dedication to personal decolonization and social action.”
The Family and Palliative Care
Professor and senior scholar, Dr. Betty Davies (Nursing) brings her expertise
in palliative care to a comprehensive
program of research and scholarship in
UVic’s school of nursing. Her research
interests include issues related to death,
dying and bereavement, with a particular
focus on siblings, mothers, fathers
and family units in pediatric palliative
care. Renowned internationally, Davies
contributes further to the recognition of
the school as a major centre for nursing
scholarship, leadership and education.
Putting the Public in Healthcare
Associate Professor Dr. Marjorie MacDonald (Nursing) renowned expert
in population and public health has been awarded a Chair in Public Health
Education and Population Intervention Research by the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada. MacDonald’s research
focuses on three streams—an analysis of the impact of the Core Public Health
Functions Framework in BC; studies related to adolescent health promotion in
the areas of health literacy and adolescent smoking; and research related to
advanced practice nursing in public health. The objectives of the Chair are to
provide high quality focused programs and policy with national relevance to
public health and to mentor the next generation of public health practitioners,
policy makers and researchers. For more information visit web.uvic.ca/~cphfri.
“With our program of research we intend to increase the capacity of decision makers to use evidence to advance public health policy and practice so that ultimately the health of the population is improved.”
DISTINGuISHED SCHoLARS AND CoMMuNITy LEADERS
Aboriginal Health Research
Dr. Jeff Reading (Human and Social
Development) is an award winning national
leader in Aboriginal health research and
is currently the co-director of the centre
for Aboriginal health research at UVic. His
research addresses chronic disease and
mental health, traditional medicine, nutrition
and research ethics.
“our job is to bring Aboriginal communities and researchers closer together to find strategies that improve health.”
Focus on Healthy Sexuality
Associate Professor Dr. Charlotte Reading (Human
and Social Development) and an affiliated researcher
with the UVic Centre for Aboriginal Health Research
is renowned for her work in the area of sexual and
reproductive health of Aboriginal women. She has
published in the areas of Aboriginal health, social
determinants of health, cultural competence, cancer
among Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal HIV/AIDS,
Aboriginal ethics and research capacity building.
Reading is involved at the national level as Chair of
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health - Aboriginal
Health Research Network Secretariat, Co-Chair
of the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity -
Community-Based HIV Research Steering Committee.
Her popular course entitled Healthy Sexuality will be
offered at UVic starting this fall.
Someone’s Mother, Sister or DaughterProfessor Robina Thomas, Dr. Jeannine Carriére, Dr. Susan Strega (Social Work) and Associate Dean of
Research, Dr. Leslie Brown will be examining the relationships between survival/street sex workers and their
families and how these relationships impact the process of transitioning out of street sex work. The project will
work with sex worker community agencies in western Canadian cities that have significant numbers of these
workers. Given that the majority of survival/street sex workers are Indigenous the research is sensitized to this fact
and its impacts. The project will also analyze recent media coverage about street sex workers and their families
and consider how these discourses impact family relationships and affect the transition.
We want to know what
factors enhance or
impede relationships
between sex workers and
their extended families as
these women transition
off the street.
Winning Research Benefits ChildrenPhD student Janet Newbury (Child and Youth Care) has been awarded the
prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for doctoral students. Newbury’s
research project, “Contextualizing Care: Alternatives to the Individuation of Struggles
and Support” will focus on how an emphasis on social justice might alter Canadian
approaches to helping children and families.
“If contributing to the well-being of children and families is the goal, then perhaps addressing inequitable social conditions is a good place to start.”
Photo (left to right): Dusti Foster, PEERS BC, Social Work professors Jeannine Carriére, Susan Strega, Leslie Brown and research assistants Jeannie Morgan and Caitlin Janzen
Breaking the Cycle of HomelessnessDr. Bernie Pauly (Nursing) co-leads a research team
working in collaboration with the Victoria Cool Aid
Society and the Community Social Planning Council
of Greater Victoria to evaluate the effectiveness of
transitional shelters in Victoria and the impact of
those shelters on breaking the cycle of homelessness.
Fostering and nurturing external partnerships with
community groups, local and provincial governments,
and key social service agencies within research projects
related to addressing local and national realities are
central to finding long-term strategies that can end
homelessness in our own community and help benefit
other communities.
Attention Mr. Prime MinisterIn response to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s new legislation that will
see mandatory minimum sentences for growing marijuana (Bill C- 26),
reduced funding for harm reduction and increased funding for police
enforcement, Dr. Susan Boyd (Studies in Policy and Practice) launched the
“Educating Harper” website www.educatingharper.com. Each week for one
year Boyd sent the Prime Minister hard copy readings on harm reduction
and drug policy. The website provides easy access to well-researched and
peer reviewed papers, reports and documentaries on the importance of
harm reduction—the use of interventions designed to reduce societal and
individual harms associated with drug use and drug prohibition.
Sleeping outside and
having no place to
call home have major
consequences for a person’s
physical, emotional and
mental health.
“Canada’s drug scholars are renowned throughout the world and at home for their thoughtful, balanced and relevant research and policy analysis.”
Photo (left to right): Ted Hughes, Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, Dr. Bernie Pauly, Nursing and Dr. Budd Hall, uVic office of Community Based Research
Tseshaht Nation member Willard Gallic 1975
Training Portal a First in CanadaPatient records are going digital, and research in the
School of Health Information Science is helping to
ease the transition for health professionals. Health
information scientists, Drs. Kushniruk and Borycki head up a team of researchers who are educating
our newest doctors and nurses about the new
technology, and pre-testing the different systems
available. The research has led to the design and
implementation of an Electronic Health Record
(EHR) Educational Portal, which houses a number of
working electronic health record systems that can be
remotely accessed by students from anywhere in the
world over the web.
Most students never
experience working with
electronic health records
until they are employed in
the health care field. The
training portal helps prepare
them for their practice.
Honouring oral HistoriesWorking closely with the Tseshaht First Nation, Dr. Jeff Corntassel’s (Indigenous
Governance) research project will follow-up with participants of the 1975 inaugural
meeting of the World Council on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP). The aim is to collect an oral
history focused on understanding what influence this global gathering may have had
on contemporary strategies for regeneration in Indigenous communities. Together with
Tseshaht First Nation, on whose traditional territories (now Port Alberni) the assembly was
held, WCIP attendees and Tseshaht youth will be interviewed to understand the legacy
of this event. The digitally recorded files will remain the property of Tseshaht and will be
borrowed by IGOV for use in the core course “Indigenous Peoples and Self Determination”.
The intention of this project is to create a space for honouring oral histories and
reconnecting these histories with IGOV students seeking to regenerate their communities
through language use, oral traditions, ceremonial life, and homeland ties.
Changing Workplace ValuesIn her PhD dissertation Thea Vakil, adjunct associate professor (Public
Administration) explored the role of language in managing change. She
analyzed the provincial government’s radical reforms introduced by the
BC Liberals in 2001 as they attempted to shift traditional bureaucratic
work values to new, private sector based values such as innovation,
entrepreneurship and risk taking. Her research shows that following this
Public Service Renewal Program, public servants continued to prefer and
practice traditional values. While the BC government desired the public
service to adopt new work values it was not evident how potential conflicts
between traditional and new values should be resolved.
“The traditional bureaucratic culture consists of experiences, and deeply held beliefs and values that may take decades to change.”
Photo (left to right): Dr. Elizabeth Borycki, consulting specialist Brian Armstrong and Dr. Andre Kushniruk
eHealth observatory Addresses Patient CareDr. Francis Lau (Health Information Science) heads up
the eHealth Observatory as the new Applied eHealth
Chair co-sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research and Canada Health Infoway. The aim of the eHealth
Observatory is to monitor the effects of health information
system deployment in Canada and to serve as a laboratory
where researchers employing innovative health information
science methodologies can evaluate the effects of the
electronic health information system throughout the entire
lifecycle. From requirements, deployment, and use, to
adaptation—new knowledge will be shared to help advance
the field of Health Information Science and build capacity
through education and training. For more information visit
ehealth.uvic.ca.
Engaging youthSuicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadian youth ages 15–19 with many
more young people engaging in non-fatal suicidal behaviours each year. Dr. Jennifer White and MA student Jonathan Morris (Child and Youth Care) have been conducting a case study
of a school-based suicide prevention program in Vancouver to better understand how these
programs get planned and implemented. “Youth most often communicate their distress to their
peers and so it makes sense to reach out to youth regarding recognition of suicidal behaviours,”
says Morris. Preliminary findings suggest the need for an educational approach that invites
students and educators to consider multiple meanings that may be relevant when examining
suicide, prevention, ethics, care, community and justice.
The aim of our research
is to engage the health
care community to help
us create and use new
knowledge systems that
focus on adding value to
patient care and safety.
“Students have relevant ideas about suicide and how to prevent it and we need to listen and learn from them.”
Disease and RehabilitationDrs Su-Er Guo and Anne Bruce (Nursing) are working on a mixed-methods
research project to better understand the population of patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their adherence to
pulmonary rehabilitation programs with a particular emphasis on sex and
gender-related differences in coping strategies. Ultimately the researchers
hope to contribute to the improved health and wellbeing of this vulnerable
population through developing a better understanding of the factors
affecting patients’ program adherence. This project involves collaboration
between UVic’s School of Nursing and the Fraser Health Authority, with
data collection taking place at four Greater Vancouver sites including two
hospitals, one community health clinic and the Surrey YMCA. The team will
report preliminary findings in the fall of 2009.
We are thankful for the generous support of our donorsJocelyn Rodrigue, (Nursing) recipient of the Ultan Patrick Byrne Family
Education Bursary Trust Fund says: “This award has been of significant
assistance in lightening the burden of paying for my tuition. As a single
mother of three this bursary motivates me to continue to strive for
excellence and upon completion of the nursing program I plan to
specialize in emergency room nursing.”
For more information about how you can assist our students see our
Donors and Scholarships page www.hsd.uvic.ca/donors/index.php
For more information contact Lynne Milnes, Development Officer at
[email protected] or 250-472-5031.
Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenAn estimated 65,000 children in Canada are being
raised by grandparents without the parent in the
home—and, until now, without any legal guidance.
Professor Barb Whittington (Social Work) and the Parent
Support Services of BC developed Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren: A Legal Guide. It is the first guidebook of
its kind in Canada and helps grandparents understand
and navigate the legal complexities involved in raising
grandchildren. The project team consulted with
grandparents, social workers, service providers, lawyers
and judges and was funded by the Law Foundation
of BC and three provincial ministries. All the BC public
libraries have copies ordered and requests are pouring in
from all the Canadian provinces and territories.
Grandparents will still face
confusing legal questions
and government policies but
with this guide in hand they
will be able to navigate the
legal system more easily,
get the help they need, and
more fully embrace the joy of
raising their grandkids.
Photo (left to right): Social work professor Barb Whittington and Kirsten Holten uVic law student.
Help other students realize their dream.MA Student Jonathan Morris and Dr. Jennifer White
Child and youth Care“Africa’s Future, Africa’s Challenge: Early Childhood Care and development in Sub-Saharan Africa”, World Bank Publications 2008; Editors; Marito Garcia, Alan Pence, Judith Evans. Alan Pence, Child and Youth Care
“Standing on the Precipice: Inquiry into the potential of child and youth care practice”, MacEwan press 2008, co-editors Gerald Bellefeuille and Francis Ricks. Francis Ricks, Child and Youth Care
“British Columbia Atlas of Wellness”, UBC Press 2008, by Les Foster and C. Peter Keller. Les Foster, Child and Youth Care.
Health Information Science“Human, Social, and Organization aspects of Health Information Systems”, IGI Global 2008, by Andre Kushniruk and Elizabeth Borycki, Health Information Science
Indigenous Governance“Peace, Power and Righteousness: An Indigenous Manifesto”, 2nd edition Oxford University Press 2009; by Taiaike Alfred, Indigenous Governance
“What Does Justice Look Like? : The Struggle for liberation in Dakota homeland”, Living Justice Press 2008; by Waziyatawin, Indigenous Governance
“Forced Federalism: Contemporary changes to Indigenous Nationhood”, University of Oklahoma Press 2008; by Jeff Corntassel, Indigenous Governance
Nursing“Realities of Canadian Nursing: Professional Practice and Power Issues”, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Third Edition 2009; by Marjorie McIntyre and Carol McDonald, Nursing
Public Administration“Contested Federalism: Certainty and Ambiguity in the Canadian Federation”, Oxford University Press 2009, by Herman Bakvis, Public Administration
“Canadian Federalism: Performance, Effectiveness and Legitimacy”, Oxford University Press 2008, by Herman Bakvis, Public Administration
“Calculating Political Risk”, Earthscan publications 2009, by Catherine Althaus, Public Administration
Social Work“Walking this Path Together”, Fernwood Publishing 2009, by Jeannine Carriére & Susan Strega, Social Work
Studies in Policy and Practice“Raise Shit! Social Action Saving Lives”, Fernwood Publishing 2009, by Susan Boyd, Donald MacPherson and Bud Osborne. Susan Boyd, Studies in Policy and Practice.
“Absent Citizens: Disability Politics and Policy in Canada”, University of Toronto Press 2009, by Michael Prince, Studies in Policy and Practice
“Contesting Illness: Processes and Practices”, University of Toronto Press 2008, Edited by Pamela Moss and Katherine Teghtsoonian, Studies in Policy and Practice.
our Celebrated Book Gallery
Design: UVic Graphics Services | Photography: UVic Photo Services, Jo-Ann Richards and contributions from the Faculty of Human and Social Development
Printed on ChorusArt 50% recycled, 25% PCW and FSC-certified paper.